Research Center · DRPM ITS

Marine & EarthScience & Technology

Multidisciplinary research and community service in marine and earth sciences — Pusat Studi Sains dan Teknologi Kelautan-Kebumian.

Our Research

Ship Building

Ship structure and vibration analysis, electric fishing vessels, and submersible vehicles.

Marine Energy Resources

Eco-aquaculture floating buildings, alternative fuels, and energy from the ocean.

Geodynamics

Land subsidence, micro-earthquake, and geohydrological mapping and analysis.

Spatial Modeling

Geospatial information, UAV/LiDAR, and 3D cadastral mapping for regional planning.

Marine and earth science illustration: globe, ship, lighthouse, submarine, volcano and drone

Who we are

Strategic research for the world’s largest archipelago

The Marine-Earth Science and Technology Research Center (STKK) is a research and community-service center under DRPM ITS. Our vision is to be a leading center in marine and earth science and technology, advancing the vision of ITS through innovations that support industry and the maritime sector.

We lead cross-laboratory and cross-department work in ship design, aquaculture, ocean current and wave energy, land subsidence, spatial modelling, fault analysis, mining exploration, water management, geothermal, and geohydrology. Our roadmap follows the National Research Master Plan (RIRN) 2025–2045 and the SDGs, focusing on ship technology, marine and coastal areas, land potential, and the balance of ecosystems.

Multidisciplinary research

Marine and earth sciences across departments and laboratories.

Community service

Solutions for scientific challenges and national issues.

Know More

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What we research

Six core research topics, one shared roadmap

Ship & Offshore Engineering

Warships and submarines, special and green ships, ship safety, lightweight structures, and IoT-based ship systems.

Marine Energy Resources

Floating structures for aquaculture and renewable energy, ocean energy, alternative fuels, offshore technology, and sea-bed modelling.

Geodynamics & Spatial Modelling

Subsurface geophysics, tectonics and volcanoes, earth resources, groundwater, GIS, UAV/LiDAR, and 3D cadastre.

Coastal Ecology & Protection

Mangroves and coastal resources, seaweed cultivation, biofouling on man-made structures, and natural coastal protection.

Water Resources

Hydrology, micro-hydro energy, reservoir sediment, and sustainable water infrastructure and irrigation.

River & Coastal Engineering

River morphology and hydraulics, river-channel control, shoreline change and reclamation, and river water quality.

Roadmap 2025–2029

Our research & community-service roadmap

Five years at a glance. Pick a research area to see how each topic develops from 2025 to 2029.

20252026202720282029

Warships & submarines

2025–2029Development of warships and submarines (structure, hydrodynamics, systems, and control aspects)

Seakeeping & special ships

2025–2029Review of seakeeping and maneuvering of special and unconventional ships, with blockchain for navigation-data security and AI- and IoT-based ship maintenance; including fishing vessels, multi-hull ships, and high-speed craft

Green ship design

2025–2029Reduction of ship resistance, energy demand, and GHG emissions through ship design optimization, operating patterns, and renewable propulsion (e.g., hybrid propulsion on semi-autonomous ships)

Accident studies

2025–2029Study of ship and offshore-structure accidents based on stability, operating patterns, and human factors, integrating AI technology

Lightweight structures

2025–2029Development of lightweight and non-metallic structures for ship and offshore-structure construction

IoT on board

2025Development of IoT-based onboard system architecture

2026Design of IoT-based ship automation and communication systems

2027IoT-based emission monitoring toward Net Zero emissions

2028Development of ship operational models and inspection through VR

2029IoT-based ship safety management

20252026202720282029

Floating structures

2025–2029Development of floating structures for mariculture/aquaculture and to support renewable energy (e.g., floating solar PV, VACT, wind turbine)

Marine energy

2025Review of potential and modelling of marine energy resources: tides, ocean currents, waves, ocean thermal (OTEC), and salinity gradient

2026Hydrodynamic analysis and technology selection for floating-type marine energy: tides, ocean currents, waves, ocean thermal (OTEC), and salinity gradient

2027Numerical modelling of floating-type marine energy: tides, ocean currents, waves, ocean thermal (OTEC), and salinity gradient

2028Experimental testing of floating-type marine energy: tides, ocean currents, waves, ocean thermal (OTEC), and salinity gradient

2029Further development of floating-type marine energy: tides, ocean currents, waves, ocean thermal (OTEC), and salinity gradient

Alternative fuels

2025Development and modification of ship and offshore propulsion systems to improve efficiency and support CO2 emission reduction

2026Patent filing of alternative fuels for ship engines

2027Further development of alternative fuels for ship engines: different modes and compositions

2028–2029Laboratory- and field-scale testing of alternative fuels with different compositions, and patent filing

Offshore (TLP)

2025–2029Development of offshore technology (TLP) for oil and gas exploration and marine mineral resources

Sea-bed & GNSS

2025Sea-bed surface modelling and analysis

2026Water-column analysis and modelling (currents, sediment transport) for energy purposes, and ionosphere and troposphere model analysis using GNSS

2027Sea-bed surface modelling (bathymetric survey, seabed sediment distribution) for various maritime needs

2028Sea-bed sub-surface modelling (underwater layers) for maritime needs, especially oil & gas and subsea infrastructure

2029Long-term monitoring of water-level change and GNSS

20252026202720282029

Geophysical data

2025Subsurface geophysical data mapping and management

2026Real-time data acquisition and hydrofacies analysis

2027Subsurface geophysical data mapping and processing

2028Interpretation and analysis of a database of geological structure, geohydrology, and subsurface river systems

2029Groundwater potential study and mapping

Injection wells & MEQ

2025MEMS technology for MEQ limited to injection-well areas; study of source mechanism and crack formation around injection wells

2026MEMS technology for MEQ at injection wells, Joint MEQ method and Microgravity to identify fluids

2027MEMS technology for MEQ at injection wells, Joint MEQ method and Microgravity to identify fluids

2028Study of source-mechanism characteristics and crack formation (around injection wells)

2029Hydrofracturing techniques (design, acquisition, monitoring, crack-system evaluation) to increase steam production

GIS & Big Data

2025GIS and Big Data integration to optimize regional development

2026Remote sensing for Basic (IGD) and Thematic (IGT) Geospatial Information, using active and passive sensors

2027GIS and big data integration for regional development across sectors, including coastal planning

2028Point-cloud-based WebGIS for regional development analysis and monitoring, including coastal planning

2029Apps technology to build geospatial information on both surface and sub-surface

Geovisualization & cadastre

2025High-resolution camera-based spatial data geovisualization techniques

2026UAV/Drone LiDAR to support parcel-map data acquisition for 3D cadastre, especially regional and coastal planning

2027High-resolution camera-based geovisualization to build Augmented Reality

2028Land administration analysis related to spatial data acquisition for marine and land cadastre

2029Land value and land property analysis and their correlation with infrastructure development

Tectonics

2025Identification of surface manifestations of tectonic processes

2026Subsurface imaging of land and marine tectonic environments

2027Seismic tomography to characterize land and marine tectonic processes

2028Modelling of land and marine tectonic processes

2029Simulation of land and marine tectonic processes and evaluation of the resulting risks

Volcanology

2025Subsurface imaging of volcanic environments

2026Seismic tomography of volcanic environments

2027Integration of subsurface data of volcanic environments

2028Volcano system modelling

2029Simulation of volcanic systems and processes and evaluation of the resulting risks

Earth resources

2025Identification of earth-resource potential from subsurface geological and geophysical data

2026–2027Characterization and modelling of earth resources based on geochemistry and geophysics

2028Identification of earth-resource composition and quality

20293D modelling of earth resources for reserve estimation and exploitation potential

Aquifers & groundwater

2026Aquifer system characterization from hydrochemical, hydrogeological, and geophysical data

2027Aquifer modelling and groundwater balance evaluation

2028Technical study of groundwater decline, subsidence, and seawater intrusion based on aquifer and groundwater-balance modelling

2029Technology development and public policy for groundwater sustainability

20252026202720282029

Coastal resources

2025Development of coastal and marine resources and mangrove areas

2026–2027Exploration and utilization of coastal and marine resources

2028–2029Mapping of coastal biota with economic potential and environmental conservation value

Seaweed

2025Seaweed cultivation and food sources from marine waters

2026–2029Study of seaweed cultivation as an alternative food source

Biofouling

2025–2029Study of the effect of biofouling on man-made structures: fishing vessels, toll roads and bridges crossing the sea, aquaculture structures and equipment, and fisheries

Coastal protection

2025Coastal protection based on natural concepts and man-made technology

2026–2027Study of coastal hydrodynamics and coastal protection infrastructure

2028–2029Study of mangroves, seagrass beds, and coral reefs as coastal protectors

20252026202720282029

Hydrology

2025Hydrological study of its influence on Earth ecosystems (surface water and groundwater)

2026Study of the effect of hydrological components on surface runoff and groundwater

2027Comparative study of hydrological conditions across river basins

2028–2029Study of water-catchment areas as a buffer for water resources

Sustainable water

2025Sustainable water resource utilization

2026Study of potential river sites as an energy source

2027–2029Design and construction of a micro-hydro power plant prototype

Sediment & reservoirs

2025Sediment and its influence on reservoir/lake sustainability

2026Study of erosion potential upstream of reservoirs/lakes

2027Study of sediment delivery ratio in several reservoirs/lakes with critical land

2028–2029Study of water availability and reservoir lifespan under the influence of sediment

Water infrastructure

2025Study of water infrastructure (dams, flood channels, check dams, drainage, irrigation, hydropower)

2026Study of potential dam/reservoir sites to address floods and drought

2027Study of the effectiveness of flood-control infrastructure

2028–2029Optimization of sustainable irrigation systems

20252026202720282029

River morphology

2025Study of river and estuary morphological change

2026Study of river and estuary hydraulics

2027–2029Study of river morphological change due to sediment transport

River-channel control

2025Study of river-channel control infrastructure

2026–2029Further study of river-channel control infrastructure

Shoreline & reclamation

2025Physical parameters and models of shoreline change, coastal infrastructure, and reclamation

2026Study of sediment characteristics in coastal areas and the impact of reclamation

2027Design of environmentally friendly coastal protection and numerical modelling of the reclamation process

2028–2029Study of shoreline change, both natural and due to human engineering

River water quality

2025Study of improving river water quality

2026–2029Further study of improving river water quality

Flagship community-service topics

Movement of 1,000 smart ships safe at seaMovement of 1,000 resilient, biofouling-free shipsVillage potential mapping based on thematic geographic information systems

20252026202720282029

Ship maintenance

2025Ship hull leak maintenance

2026Ship engine maintenance

2027Introduction of navigation systems for ship safety

2028Life jackets made from used materials

2029Fish storage systems on fishing vessels

Village potential

2025Mapping of village economic potential

2026Mapping of marine potential

2027Mapping of alternative energy sources

2028Mapping to enhance cultural tourism potential